I just bought a 97 Mustang GT with 120,000 miles on it and its automatic. I've only put a cold air intake kit and rims and tires. I'm looking for advice on what mods i should start with first. I'm 19 years old, in college and work at a jiffy lube so the money isn't flowing out of my wallet and i'll most likely have to do some saving for whatever i do. What would you guys recommend i do first?
Just bought a 97 GT
- Thread starter lilbambam
- Start date
1fun281
Member
First of all, make sure your priority is school. Even if you have to quit working and take out loans, do it. The repayment for having a degree is huge (but choose a useful degree like business, engineering, ect).
Next, you just got the car, so do the regular maintanence items. You don't want to spend all your money on mods, then realize the car needs a transmission and it will cost you 2 grand... and pay +15% on credit card interest. So consider changing the trans fluid, radiator fluids, plugs, shocks/struts, fuel filter, ect. You will be amazed how much nicer the cars feels just from doing basic maintanence and you will ensure that you have a reliable car to get you through the next few years.
Lastly, mods. There are some really cheap mods you can do if you have some mechanical ability and shop carefully. I've spent around 400$ total, and gained probably 30-40hp on my GT. Here is my summary:
O/R H-pipe - just under 200$. I also made my own MIL eliminators to prevent the CEL.
PI intake - Found a nice PI intake (with aluminum crossover) from a police interceptor at the j-yard for 15$. Add in gaskets and fluids, and it cost me something under 60$.
PI cams - biggest pain in the arse to install (I pulled the front cover to replace the chain guides at the same time). I bought new PI cams on ebay for under 40$ shipped.
underdrive pullies - again, a lucky j-yard find for under 10$. marginally worth it though.
K&N filter - 60$? I don't remember, but you have the CAI already.
Beyond that, a tune helps. I bought a tweecer to tune it myself. Then, you could consider PI heads to increase airflow and compression ratio.
Next, you just got the car, so do the regular maintanence items. You don't want to spend all your money on mods, then realize the car needs a transmission and it will cost you 2 grand... and pay +15% on credit card interest. So consider changing the trans fluid, radiator fluids, plugs, shocks/struts, fuel filter, ect. You will be amazed how much nicer the cars feels just from doing basic maintanence and you will ensure that you have a reliable car to get you through the next few years.
Lastly, mods. There are some really cheap mods you can do if you have some mechanical ability and shop carefully. I've spent around 400$ total, and gained probably 30-40hp on my GT. Here is my summary:
O/R H-pipe - just under 200$. I also made my own MIL eliminators to prevent the CEL.
PI intake - Found a nice PI intake (with aluminum crossover) from a police interceptor at the j-yard for 15$. Add in gaskets and fluids, and it cost me something under 60$.
PI cams - biggest pain in the arse to install (I pulled the front cover to replace the chain guides at the same time). I bought new PI cams on ebay for under 40$ shipped.
underdrive pullies - again, a lucky j-yard find for under 10$. marginally worth it though.
K&N filter - 60$? I don't remember, but you have the CAI already.
Beyond that, a tune helps. I bought a tweecer to tune it myself. Then, you could consider PI heads to increase airflow and compression ratio.
Steve491
Member
+1 on school !
If it only has 120,000 miles then you're looking pretty good. If tires and brakes are good then exhaust is the most fun/noticable mod you can do on a budget. Not to mention exhaust is fun once you get it installed, LOL.
Tint the windows, wax it up, and have fun.
If it only has 120,000 miles then you're looking pretty good. If tires and brakes are good then exhaust is the most fun/noticable mod you can do on a budget. Not to mention exhaust is fun once you get it installed, LOL.
Tint the windows, wax it up, and have fun.
I have to have my convertible top redone before i can do anything because it never has been redone and it has shrank and tore quite a bit and it can't come out of the garage in the rain yet because of the leaks. I figured this would be as easy as ordering the top and paying a shop to do it but out of all the convertible top places in my area, none of them want to mess with mine for some reason even if i dont order the top myself and let them order it so they can charge me more.. has anybody else had this problem?
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